US7341185B1 - Method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal - Google Patents
Method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7341185B1 US7341185B1 US11/927,919 US92791907A US7341185B1 US 7341185 B1 US7341185 B1 US 7341185B1 US 92791907 A US92791907 A US 92791907A US 7341185 B1 US7341185 B1 US 7341185B1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- product
- self
- radio frequency
- scanned
- tamper resistant
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- G07G1/00—Cash registers
- G07G1/0036—Checkout procedures
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/20—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/20—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
- G06Q20/208—Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- G07G1/00—Cash registers
- G07G1/0036—Checkout procedures
- G07G1/0045—Checkout procedures with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
- G07G1/009—Checkout procedures with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader the reader being an RFID reader
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- G07G3/00—Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
- G07G3/003—Anti-theft control
Definitions
- the present invention pertains to the art of retail sales check-out terminals and, more particularly, to a system for marking products passing through a self-service checkout terminal.
- retail stores employ checkout terminals manned by a store employee, e.g., cashier.
- the store employee scans each item to be purchased by a customer.
- the cashier will ask the customer if there are any large under-cart items that require scanning. If so, the cashier will typically use a hand-held scanner to scan the large item. Once all items are scanned, a total is calculated, the customer pays and carries the purchased items from the store.
- checkout terminals manned by a store employee, e.g., cashier.
- cashier scans each item to be purchased by a customer.
- the cashier will ask the customer if there are any large under-cart items that require scanning. If so, the cashier will typically use a hand-held scanner to scan the large item. Once all items are scanned, a total is calculated, the customer pays and carries the purchased items from the store.
- self-service checkout terminals many retail stores have installed self-service checkout terminals.
- a self-service checkout terminal allows a customer to scan and pay for items without the aid of a cashier.
- the customer employs the hand-held scanner to validate a purchase.
- a “paid” label is printed, and the customer is prompted to affix the label to the large item.
- a customer will accidentally neglect to scan a large under-cart item and head towards a store exit.
- many stores employ a security person that performs a visual scan to ensure that all under-the-carts items have a paid label.
- a dishonest customer will simply neglect to scan an item and attempt to leave the store, or will swap a paid label from one item to another, generally more expensive item. In any case, it is difficult to monitor all carts and all customers exiting a store, particularly during high volume sales periods.
- the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method of marking products purchased through a self-service checkout terminal.
- the method includes scanning a product to be purchased into a computer and issuing a tamper resistant label from a printer at the self-service checkout terminal.
- the tamper resistant label includes a visual indicator including product data section, and a radio frequency identifier programmed at the self-service checkout terminal with a product data portion.
- the method also includes adhesively bonding the tamper resistant label to the product scanned into the computer such that removal of the tamper resistant label from the product destroys the product data section of the visual indicator and the radio frequency identifier.
- the method includes scanning for each of the visual indicator and the radio frequency identifier after the product passes through the self-service checkout terminal to verify that the product was scanned into the computer.
- FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a self-service checkout terminal including an apparatus for dispensing tamper resistant monitoring labels in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 illustrates a tamper resistant monitoring label in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of a method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 1 there is shown a self-service checkout terminal indicated generally at 2 .
- Checkout terminal 2 includes a product scanning portion 5 and a user interface portion 8 .
- Product scanning portion 5 includes a product scale 12 , a stationary scanner 14 having a vertical scanning surface 16 and a horizontal scanning surface 18 , and a hand-held scanner 22 .
- Stationary scanner 14 and hand-held scanner 22 scan or read product identification codes, such as Universal Product Code (UPC), industrial symbol(s), alphanumeric character(s) or other indicia associated with items to be purchased.
- product scanning portion 5 includes a radio frequency detector 27 that is employed to scan radio frequency identification (RFID) tags as will become more fully evident below.
- Scanner portion 5 is further shown to include a housing 30 having first and second counter surfaces 32 and 33 , and a holder 34 that serves as a housing for hand-held scanner 22 .
- RFID radio frequency identification
- User interface portion 8 includes a housing 44 having a card reader 47 , a bill acceptor/validator 48 , a display monitor 50 , a keypad 53 , a receipt printer 55 for printing receipts, and a change well 58 for selectively returning change to customers upon completion of a purchase transaction.
- User interface 8 further includes a computer 61 including a database 62 having stored therein product information.
- a bag well 66 is interposed between scanner portion 5 and user interface portion 8 .
- Self-service checkout terminal 2 is also shown to include a status light 70 that signals customers that terminal 2 is open or store personnel that help is required.
- user interface portion 8 is shown to include a printer 73 that selectively outputs tamper resistant monitoring labels or tags as will be discussed more fully below.
- a customer During a transaction, a customer approaches self-service checkout terminal 2 with a shopping cart, such as indicated at 78 , full of various items/products indicated generally at 80 . In addition to items 80 , often times a customer will purchase a large or bulk item, such as shown at 83 , that is stored underneath cart 78 .
- the customer scans each of items 80 through stationary scanner 14 . The scan queries computer 61 for product information associated with the scanned product stored in database 62 . The product information is then stored in computer 61 as part of a list of purchased products associated with the instant transaction. The product information is also sent to display monitor 50 , which displays the price so that it may be seen by the customer.
- the price and product information are sent to receipt printer 55 where a cash receipt containing a list of all products purchased, their associated prices together with a total is printed upon completion of the transaction.
- the receipt also usually contains an identification of the store, date of purchase, a record of the cash offered by the customer, change due, credits due, and any applicable taxes. In any event, once payment is received, and the receipt validating the purchase is printed, the customer exits the store with their purchases.
- an unscrupulous customer may try to take advantage of the employee's low level of vigilance and attempt to sneak a product from the store.
- the unscrupulous customer will remove a label from a scanned item to place on an oftentimes more expensive not scanned item.
- the present invention provides a tamper resistant monitoring label 90 such as shown in FIG. 2 .
- Label 90 includes a first or outer surface 93 and a second or adhesive surface 95 including a semi-permanent adhesive 98 .
- Label 90 also includes a plurality of score lines 104 through 110 that are designed to tear if a customer attempts to remove label 90 from a scanned product.
- label 90 is provided with a striking visual indicator such as a fluorescent color, or reflective surface to draw the attention of store employees or security personnel.
- the visual indicator also includes a product data section 119 including product data such as product name, product price, and date of purchase.
- label 90 is provided with a radio frequency identification device 123 having an antenna 124 that extends across label 90 .
- Radio frequency identification device 123 also includes a product data portion 125 programmed with product data, e.g., product name product price and purchase date, at self-service checkout terminal 2 when a product is scanned by hand-held scanner 22 .
- product data e.g., product name product price and purchase date
- store personnel are not only provided with a visual indicator to ensure that large or under-cart items have been scanned into computer 61 and purchased, but also with a radio frequency identifier that can be scanned by, for example radio frequency detector 27 to aid in minimizing product losses as will be discussed more fully below.
- a customer upon approaching self-service checkout terminal 2 , a customer scans bar codes affixed to each item 80 in shopping car 78 .
- the bar codes contain product information that is entered into computer 61 —to be stored in a transaction database as indicated in block 136 in FIG. 3 .
- the customer uses hand-held scanner 22 to scan the corresponding bar code as indicated in block 138 .
- computer 61 initiates printing product data section 119 on label 90 as indicated in block 142 .
- Computer 61 also programs product data portion 125 of radio frequency identifier device 123 as indicated at block 144 .
- printer 73 dispenses tamper resistant label 90 as indicated in block 146 .
- a visual and/or audible prompt is presented requesting that the customer affix tamper resistant label 90 to the scanned under-cart or large item as indicated in block 148 .
- radio frequency identifying tag 200 in the event that a particular item already includes a radio frequency identifying tag RFID tag, such as indicated at 200 , after scanning an under-cart item into database 62 in block 138 , computer 61 reprograms radio frequency identifying tag 200 as indicated in block 160 as an added measure of security. More specifically, oftentimes certain products are provided with a radio frequency identifier or tag for inventory control purposes. The exemplary embodiment reprograms the existing inventory control radio frequency identifier to indicate that the associated item has been scanned into database 62 .
- radio frequency monitoring device 27 is employed to scan for signals from both label 90 and RFID tag 200 to further ensure that each item has been scanned into database 62 and purchased by the customer.
- the present invention provides for a simple, cost-effective method of inventory control to ensure bulk products are properly, permanently and conspicuously marked as being purchased through a self-service check-out terminal.
- store personnel are provided with multiple opportunities, both active, i.e., visual scanning of carts and passive, i.e., electronic scanning, to scan for marked products, to ensure that every item, particularly large under-cart items, exiting the store has been purchased by the customer.
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Economics (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
- Operations Research (AREA)
- Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
- Development Economics (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (4)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/927,919 US7341185B1 (en) | 2007-10-30 | 2007-10-30 | Method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/927,919 US7341185B1 (en) | 2007-10-30 | 2007-10-30 | Method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US7341185B1 true US7341185B1 (en) | 2008-03-11 |
Family
ID=39155265
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/927,919 Expired - Fee Related US7341185B1 (en) | 2007-10-30 | 2007-10-30 | Method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7341185B1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100257063A1 (en) * | 2008-06-20 | 2010-10-07 | Harold Clayton Clifford | Information gathering and decoding apparatus and method of use |
US8360320B2 (en) * | 2011-06-21 | 2013-01-29 | Ncr Corporation | Apparatus, system and method for a hybrid optical code scanner |
USD709888S1 (en) * | 2012-07-02 | 2014-07-29 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Bi-optic imaging scanner module |
USD730901S1 (en) * | 2014-06-24 | 2015-06-02 | Hand Held Products, Inc. | In-counter barcode scanner |
US11244301B2 (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2022-02-08 | Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated | Mobile cart reconciliation |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4084742A (en) | 1976-08-02 | 1978-04-18 | Silverman Richard H | Price marking system for automated check-out of merchandize |
US4529871A (en) | 1982-09-29 | 1985-07-16 | Loblaw Companies Limited | Price marking system |
US5884425A (en) | 1997-05-23 | 1999-03-23 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Anti-tamper tag with theft protection |
US6325290B1 (en) | 1998-12-04 | 2001-12-04 | Ncr Corporation | Method and apparatus for checking out large items with a self-service checkout terminal |
US6327972B2 (en) * | 1998-10-07 | 2001-12-11 | Meto International Gmbh | Printer with a device for the driving of transponder chips |
US6783072B2 (en) * | 2002-02-01 | 2004-08-31 | Psc Scanning, Inc. | Combined data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system |
US20040220860A1 (en) | 2002-12-20 | 2004-11-04 | Michael Persky | Self-checkout system having integrated RFID reader |
US20050218219A1 (en) * | 2004-04-02 | 2005-10-06 | Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha | Label and RFID tag issuing apparatus |
US7049962B2 (en) * | 2000-07-28 | 2006-05-23 | Micoh Corporation | Materials and construction for a tamper indicating radio frequency identification label |
US20060221363A1 (en) * | 2002-08-16 | 2006-10-05 | Paxar Corporation | Hand held portable printer with rfid read write capability |
US20070069895A1 (en) * | 2003-12-24 | 2007-03-29 | Koh Soo K | Rfid seal tag |
-
2007
- 2007-10-30 US US11/927,919 patent/US7341185B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4084742A (en) | 1976-08-02 | 1978-04-18 | Silverman Richard H | Price marking system for automated check-out of merchandize |
US4529871A (en) | 1982-09-29 | 1985-07-16 | Loblaw Companies Limited | Price marking system |
US5884425A (en) | 1997-05-23 | 1999-03-23 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Anti-tamper tag with theft protection |
US6327972B2 (en) * | 1998-10-07 | 2001-12-11 | Meto International Gmbh | Printer with a device for the driving of transponder chips |
US6325290B1 (en) | 1998-12-04 | 2001-12-04 | Ncr Corporation | Method and apparatus for checking out large items with a self-service checkout terminal |
US7049962B2 (en) * | 2000-07-28 | 2006-05-23 | Micoh Corporation | Materials and construction for a tamper indicating radio frequency identification label |
US6783072B2 (en) * | 2002-02-01 | 2004-08-31 | Psc Scanning, Inc. | Combined data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system |
US20060221363A1 (en) * | 2002-08-16 | 2006-10-05 | Paxar Corporation | Hand held portable printer with rfid read write capability |
US20040220860A1 (en) | 2002-12-20 | 2004-11-04 | Michael Persky | Self-checkout system having integrated RFID reader |
US20070069895A1 (en) * | 2003-12-24 | 2007-03-29 | Koh Soo K | Rfid seal tag |
US20050218219A1 (en) * | 2004-04-02 | 2005-10-06 | Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha | Label and RFID tag issuing apparatus |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100257063A1 (en) * | 2008-06-20 | 2010-10-07 | Harold Clayton Clifford | Information gathering and decoding apparatus and method of use |
US9569763B2 (en) * | 2008-06-20 | 2017-02-14 | Datalogic Usa, Inc. | Information gathering and decoding apparatus and method of use |
US8360320B2 (en) * | 2011-06-21 | 2013-01-29 | Ncr Corporation | Apparatus, system and method for a hybrid optical code scanner |
USD709888S1 (en) * | 2012-07-02 | 2014-07-29 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Bi-optic imaging scanner module |
USD730901S1 (en) * | 2014-06-24 | 2015-06-02 | Hand Held Products, Inc. | In-counter barcode scanner |
USD757009S1 (en) | 2014-06-24 | 2016-05-24 | Hand Held Products, Inc. | In-counter barcode scanner |
US11244301B2 (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2022-02-08 | Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated | Mobile cart reconciliation |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6926202B2 (en) | System and method of deterring theft of consumers using portable personal shopping solutions in a retail environment | |
KR100395419B1 (en) | Method and system for deciding price of product on the basis of valid date of product | |
US6189789B1 (en) | Method and system for a merchandise checkout system | |
US5752582A (en) | Self-service checkout system | |
US20040143505A1 (en) | Method for tracking and disposition of articles | |
US20040267621A1 (en) | Food product scale-based incentive system | |
US7984853B2 (en) | Reducing internal theft at a point of sale | |
CN101836217A (en) | System, method, and apparatus of RFID point of sale | |
US6386448B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for operating a self-service retail system in a department store | |
US7341185B1 (en) | Method of marking and monitoring products at a self-service checkout terminal | |
US7533044B2 (en) | System for sale of consumer goods | |
US8796564B2 (en) | Produce transaction system and method including a scale and a computer separate from a checkout computer | |
JP5055887B2 (en) | Product registration device | |
US8210439B2 (en) | Merchandise security tag for an article of merchandise | |
JP2011227723A (en) | Commodity information printing apparatus | |
EP1255217A2 (en) | Item processing system and method using labels | |
JP2005149369A (en) | Article information notifying system | |
US20070205135A1 (en) | Construction Jobsite Product Packaging Arrangement | |
JP4007004B2 (en) | Program executed by settlement system, program executed by settlement check system, settlement method, settlement system, and recording medium | |
KR20030036537A (en) | Method and system for deciding price of product on the basis of valid date of product | |
JP2012194848A (en) | Self-settlement device and self-settlement system | |
JP4521969B2 (en) | Product sales confirmation method and price tag | |
JP7221722B2 (en) | Goods information reader and program | |
JP2005050032A (en) | Commodity handling system | |
KR200319013Y1 (en) | The Mart manage system used to carte attached RFID |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, NEW Y Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ARRINGTON, STACY L.;FREEDMAN, SHARON C.;MAKLEY, HYE S.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020033/0944 Effective date: 20071025 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, NEW Y Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FOURTH ASSIGNOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 020033 FRAME 0944;ASSIGNORS:ARRINGTON, STACY L.;FREEDMAN, SHARON C.;MAKLEY, HYE S.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020065/0896 Effective date: 20071025 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GOOGLE INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:026894/0001 Effective date: 20110817 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20160311 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GOOGLE LLC, CALIFORNIA Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:GOOGLE INC.;REEL/FRAME:044142/0357 Effective date: 20170929 |